Tēnā Koutou Katoa

New Year Greetings to you all. I trust you have had a rest over this rather modest summer and are refreshed and ready for the New Year.

Every year begins with some challenges but always with a sense of excitement for what is to come.

On that note, in December I tendered my resignation as CEO to the NZCEO Board. The Board has begun a process of appointing a new CEO to take up the role in the middle of the year. The advertisement is on our web site and is also in this newsletter. We are looking to have a seamless transition for this change so that there will be some period of crossover.

At the end of 2019 APIS challenged the government over two issues.

We expressed concern at the exclusion of state integrated schools from the Government’s announcement of the $400 million for capital maintenance of schools. We are working closely with legal counsel and have set in place a process to review this decision. I do not intend to litigate this in the media at this time but we all have to remember that this is an election year. Any government is vulnerable to the voting power of such a large group of parents and past pupils who believe in our cause. It is a matter of justice and we will share progress with you as we can. I expect to update the sector as and when it is appropriate.

Late last year a number of Principals who had been included in the first roll out of the Learning Support Co-ordinators (LSC) contacted this office with concerns about the funding of the new spaces for the people who would be employed in this roll. Where schools are at capacity for space then there is an entitlement of 15sq mt for each office of a LNS co-ordinator. It appeared that the Ministry was not going to fund the integrated schools for this space when it was required. Following urgent communications with the Secretary for Education and the Minister I can advise that the Government do intend to follow the spirit of the 2016 Memorandum which provides for 85% of the costs of any new building associated with a policy change. Proprietors will have responsibility for some costs so schools will need to work closely with their proprietors. There is still work to do for both state and state integrated schools in this space and a hui will held in both islands at the end of the holidays for those Kahui Ako who are involved.  This office would be keen to hear of any issues arising with the implementation of the policy.

The NZCEO office welcomed Rosalie Connors as our new Manager Special Character at the beginning of 2020. Rosalie comes with a strong background in Special Character work and is settling and familiarising herself with the many functions of the role. Later in the year we expect to travel and meet many of you in your communities.

NZSTA  - Green Paper – Now What for schooling in New Zealand. A school trusteeship lens on the proposed education sector reforms.

NZSTA have released a paper responding to the Governments reviews. The paper is a comprehensive response to many of the proposed reforms from the point of view of Trustees. It includes some very good points about future reforms but at no time does it make any reference to the 11.4% of the network that involves trustees who represent State Integrated Schools.

State Integrated Schools will need to be vigilant that the current government administration does not come to believe that we are outside the state system. We are an integral part of the state school system which is something we have had to remind the government of during this latest building dispute.

Ngā mihi nui

Paul Ferris

Chief Executive Officer.

Chief Executive

NZCEO and Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS) 

The CEO of NZCEO and APIS will be a leader who can influence policy, maintain relationships with key sectors, is ambitious for the sector, courageous about change and prudent with risk.  We are seeking a qualified experienced leader who can lead a small team to engage with all stakeholders and provide leadership around an agreed strategic plan. They will deliver high quality responsive leadership to 11% of the schooling sector in New Zealand.

Applicants will have core competencies in building teams, strategic leadership, business administration, quality operational delivery. They will be a persuasive communicator, a strong supporter of our bi-cultural and cross cultural heritage. This person of integrity will most likely have had experience in faith based, not for profit roles which will provide confidence to their Catholic shareholders and wider church based communities. The role is based at the New Zealand Catholic Education Office, Wellington.

Enquiries to p.ferris@nzceo.org.nz for job description and person description.

Applications close February 10^th 2020

Applications to The Chairperson, gtr@oeg.co.nz

The Education and Training Bill includes several changes to the existing bill. 

Are you aware of the proposed changes to the framework regulating physical restraint in schools?

One of the changes to the bill is to make it clear when teachers and authorised staff can use physical intervention. To read more about the the changes to physical restrait click here

You’re invited to submit your feedback to the Education and Workforce Committee.
Submissions close 14 February 2020. 

Click here to To read the bill and for information on how to make a submission can be found

The Bill’s proposed main changes for schooling include:

• Modifying school boards’ primary objectives to include, alongside educational achievement, ensuring the physical and emotional safety of students and staff, being inclusive and catering for students with differing needs and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• The requirement for boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi includes ensuring their plans and local curriculum reflect local tikanga Māori, by achieving equitable outcomes for Māori learners and by taking all reasonable steps to make instruction available in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori.
• Enabling the Minister to issue a Code of Conduct, setting minimum conduct standards for board members.
• The development of set criteria, in consultation with educators, to assist school boards with the appointment of principals. Boards will retain the right to appoint principals within this framework.
• Ensuring more local children can attend their local schools by shifting responsibility for enrolment schemes from boards to the Ministry of Education. Boards will continue to have input into enrolment schemes.
• Strengthening the rights of parents, whānau and students by enabling the creation of independent complaint and dispute resolution panels. These would investigate serious disputes, such as suspensions and exclusions or learning support provision, where matters cannot be resolved with the school.
• Requiring boards to consult with their students (as appropriate), their staff and school communities when making school rules.

NZCEO welcomed Rosalie Connors as the Manager, Special Character on 15 January. Rosalie comes with excellent Catholic education teaching and leadership experience, having worked in Catholic primary and secondary schools, and at diocesan level.  Her most recent experience has been with the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa and prior to that as the Review and Development Advisor for the Diocese of Palmerston North.

Rosalie has worked at a national level on the revision of the Catholic Special Character Review document and the Catholic School Elaborations: Standards for the Teaching Profession.

Rosalie has a Masters in Religious Education and is currently completing an education doctorate with a focus on faith leadership in Catholic schools, both with the Australian Catholic University.

The senior management structure of the office is

Paul Ferris, Chief Executive Officer

Heather Richardson, Chief Financial Officer

Karen Raitt,  Manager Policy Projects, Strategy, and Events 

Rosalie Connors, Manager Special Character, Catholic Character Reviews, Publications, Early Childhood, and Convention Programming